"Let him try his lungs a little longer. It will clear his voice for
singing school. I guess I must go to meeting next Sabbath, if for
nothing else, to hear him perform."

"But I 'fraid de poor man freeze," said the compassionate General.

"Never fear, 'twon't hurt him. It will do him good to freeze some of
the ugliness out of him. Besides it's best to wait awhile. Perhaps,
somebody coming along will help him out, and that will save you the
trouble."

"Me! Missa Gladding! what hab I to do wid it? You put him dere, and
you is de one to pull him out."

"Don't be onreasonable, Prime, now. You see, if I should go, he'd
know, of course, all about it. Why, he'd recollect the clothes, and
next thing I should be took up for assault and battery."

"And who save me from being took up?"

"O, there ain't no danger of that. They can't git no hold on ye. You
can say you hearn crying for help, and didn't know but what Holden had
turned on him, and so come to assist."

Primus shook his head dubiously. He hardly knew what to reply, yet was
evidently disinclined to the adventure. For that reason, perhaps, he
allowed Basset to remain in durance longer than his own good-nature
prompted, in the hope that relief might arrive from some other
quarter.